This Christmas table runner is a good project for those trying to learn quilting and it is also my way of getting to know my new sewing machine. Many of you have followed my battles with my Juki. Well, those days are over, I'm happy to say, thanks to a birthday present from my husband. I'll tell you more about the new machine in a subsequent post but suffice it to say, the Juki has seen its last days.
But for now, I have decided to make a project that will allow me to get to know the machine while practicing my quilting skills. If you're interested in learning more about quilting, don't miss our article about Beginner Quilting.
This Christmas table runner is a simple design I got from last summer trip to Eastern Europe in the lovely country of Lithuania. I saw the table runner in a shop dedicated to Santa Claus and all things Christmas. The owner of the shop was sewing a table center with a very old mechanical machine. I asked her how she made it and she was very happy to explain. She said it was an old pattern that her grandmother had taught her and so it was a common thing to sew if you are just starting at quilting.
The table runner has three flowers. I have used two different colors of fabric, golden white on one side and red on the other.
The measurement of this Christmas table runner is 41″ X 15″.
Materials
- 2 yards of quilting cotton for the primary color
- 2 yards of quilting cotton to contrast
- Light cotton cover polyester thread to match
- Lightweight batting
- 3 cover buttons on white
Tools
- Rotary cutter
- Ruler
- Fabric pen (Please read our detailed review of Frixion pens.)
- Sewing machine (optional)
Fabric Recommendations for the Christmas table runner
Pattern Layout
Pattern Download
The FREE sewing pattern along with detailed PDF instructions are available on Payhip.
You can download it FREE there.
How to print the pattern
We do not ask you to download any additional program other than Adobe Reader which is completely FREE.
Use Adobe Reader to download and open the patterns, to print your pattern size, print on Actual Size and Landscape form. Do not scale the pattern.
How to make the Christmas table runner
The table runner is laid out in three parts that I will call flowers. Each flower is composed of 12 petals. Four of the petals are going to be made by sewing the circles together while the other 8 are sewn separately.
Step One: Cutting the pieces
You will have to cut the following amount of pieces:
- 12 round circles in red
- 12 round circles in white
- 12 round circles in light batting
- 24 red petals
- 24 white petals
- 24 light batting petals
Step Two: Assembling the petals and circles
The assembling of the petals and the circles is the same. To expedite this project I suggest you assemble all components before starting to sew them together into the runner.
You will need three pieces per petal shown below. 
- Place one piece of batting on the table.
- On top of the batting, place a light color petal print side up.
- Place a red petal print side down on top of the white petal.
- Repeat the same procedure on all 24 petals.
The order of the layers is important as you'll see when we turn the components leaving the batting inside.
The procedure is the same for the circles and you will also need three pieces
Step Three: Assembling and sewing the flowers.
Step Three: Assembling and sewing the flowers.The seam allowance for all pieces is 3/8″ (1cm). Leave a 1.5″ (4 cm) on the circles and
1″ (2.5 to 3cm) gap on the petals to turn print side out.
Trim the seam allowance by half.
Turn print side out and pin and sew using a hand needle and thread close the gap.
You will need 12 circles and 24 petals to make a 3-flower Christmas table runner.
Step Four: How to sew the flowers
The flower is made by sewing together four circles and 8 petals.
Following your pattern, you will see a square in the middle. The square is the stitching line. Transfer the square to the circles with a washable fabric marker or tailor's chalk.
Take two circles red sides together, sew on side of the square. 
Repeat with all the 12 circles, you should have 6 pairs.
Take two pairs, pin and sew the bottom of the square. 
Make three clusters of flowers. 
White sides together, sew on the red side joining two clusters. 
The table runner should look like this. 
Add the last cluster the same way as above by joining white sides together and sewing on the red side. 
Step Five: Add the petals
Add eight petal for every flower, two on each side. You can sew the petals using a hand needle or your machine. 
Sew petal leaving space for the other one. 
Sew the other petal next to it. Fold back the first petal to be able to sew the next one. 
Step Six: Add the cover buttons
I have covered the buttons with the white fabric, but you can choose any other kind of fabric. If you want to learn how to make fabric covered buttons this tutorial is very easy to follow.
I have taken my time with this project because I have a new sewing machine that I need to learn to use and the only way I can do that is by having a reason to use it. It is a very complicated machine and I will be showing you when I unboxed it in a future post.
Until next time! Please feel free to share your comments below!
I have downloaded the pattern but the sizes a the size of dessert plates. Making this TOO small what size exactly is the circle?
You need to download on Actual Size, and no scaling then it will turn out the right size.
What is the size of the circles in this tutorial? I am getting ready to do this piece, and already have the fabric.
I Just follow the instructions to download the pattern and nothing happened the page was in white screen and nothing the pattern
Can you check, please if you have a window blocker? Let me know if you are still having trouble downloading the pattern. Kind Regards,
I love this table runner and downloaded the pattern. I did not, however, received the instructions for sewing. Can you forward those to me, please.
Hi Debbie the sewing instructions are above on the left side of the screen there is a print-friendly button. I have a limit on the size of files I can share for free.
I bought the pattern, but no instructions came with it’ Please email them to me. thank you
Did you buy the pattern? Where? This is a free pattern. There is a button on the left side of your screen to print the pattern without the ads.
Beautiful pattern. Thank you for sharing. I made a few changes based on my preferences. I topstitched each piece. I also appliqued a circle instead of a button (yellow french knots might look nice…) and I only used 4 instead of 8 petals on the outside flowers. I plan to do another runner but use blues because this pattern make me of water lilies. Thank yuu again.
I have downloaded the instructions, however I couldn’t find the size of the circle, if you could email me with the size of the circle and the height and width of the additional petal please. I’m making the table runner for my daughter for her first Christmas in her new home. Thank you in advance.
Hi Jane, you could download the pattern it is free, donations are welcome but are voluntary, kind regards,
I love this pattern. Thank you for sharing it!
My pleasure!
Thank you for the pattern, your chosen fabrics are lovely and compliment this table runner beautifully. Have a wonderful Christmas. ????????????
Hi,
Wondering why you don’t press or topstitch any of your completed circles or petals? Would it not be a nicer finish?
Thank You very much for this terrific runner. Good luck with your new machine.
How do you connect the 3 pedals to make one long runner?
Hubby and I didn’t want to drag down all the decorations this year as we’ll be on our own. I saw this runner and will be making one for the dining table and coffee table…it wil be perfect! I think I will put a plain circle insert (so there will be 5 circles) so I have a flat surface to put a center piece on. Thanks for sharing!
When you sew the 3 sections with white sides together you have petals on what is now the bottom of the runner. Do you cut them off so there is no extra fabric on the botom?
Thanks so much!
No, I do not cut anything, Sewing the circles together create some of the petals that you need to finish the flower.
I think the confusion is in the directions to sew with white side facing and sew on the red. You can’t sew on the red and expect the red to fold over to the white front, it will fold over the white to the red back.
I can’t wait to make this for gifts. So pretty!
Hope you share a photo with me! Kind Regards,
can you please tell me the size of squares that are in the circle? I am having printer problems the width of petals at widest point and length would also help! Thank You
Great pattern but…
The image that is beneath “Sew the other petal next to it. Fold back the first petal to be able to sew the next one.” shows only 1 petal and does not show the ‘next’ petal next to the first one.
I used to proof-read documents in my job so I get a bit anal when I’m reading, especially if it’s something I really like. 😀
Thanks for sharing this pattern!
Sorry Marry, sad to say my first language is Spanish, English is my second, French my third then Portuguese. I try my best but really rely on you guys to correct my mistakes to improve the article. So thank you very much! Kind Regards,
I paid to download this pattern. I got the pattern pieces, but no instructions. When I tried to print the instructions shown on your website, each page was ruined by a large ad. I need the instructions please. This is for the Christmas table runner.
Thank you, Lori, for your kind donations, send you the trick to avoid the ads via email. Kind Regards,
I really love the look of this. Can’t wait to get some fabric and start the project
This is such a beautiful runner. Thank you for sharing. I love it!
Hi Myra, I purchased the pattern but I can’t get it to download on my iPad. Can you help me ?
Thank you
Robin
Thank you for your lovely Christmas Table Runner
That looks delightful. Thank you so much for sharing.
My pleasure!
Thank you for sharing this free table runner pattern. Can’t wait to make it. On my way to pick out fabric …????????
Thank you so much.
Enjoy!
I have a quick question about the runner. The picture that is shown looks like it is a good size. Can you tell me what size your circles are.
I did print out the templates and the 2” square is accurate.
Thanks for your time.????????
Sorry if I am asking too many questions.
I am making your beautiful poinsettia table runner.
I have sent two other emails.
Can you tell me the measurement on the circles.
If this is not allowed just let me know…
If I don’t hear from you I will assume they are not allowed
Thank you for your time.
Thank you. I want to try my hand at quilting. I like machine embroidery and sewing, but have not tried quilting. This pattern looks like a good one to start with. Thanks!
Yes I think it is a very good first project. I find quilting very hard.
Love the runner. Will be making several for different times if the year. How did you finish the back? Did you task down the ovals or does sewing the 2 petals hold them enough?
Thanks for the pattern.
Sewing the petals holds them enough. Ironing makes them lie flat.
When adding the 8 petal’s do you sew down the centre to the tip.
Thank you ????
Is there a template or size for the circle and the pedals>
Absolutely stunning! Perfect for holiday gift giving (except for the one I keep for myself!) Just might have to do this today! Such great directions. Thank you
I made this pattern 3 or so years ago. It’s beautiful but was quite laborious! Was worth it though. I wouldn’t consider it a beginner’s project though and I’ve been quilting and sewing for decades.
Thanks for sharing the pattern.
I made this for my niece for Christmas a few years ago when you shared it. It was not too difficult and turned out beautifully. Even better, she’d been wanting something for her table, so my gifting her with the table runner was just the perfect coincidence!
Merci pour ce très bel ouvrage
I can’t get pattern to download. Give me measurements for circle and pattern or measurements for petals.
I love this pattern. Very beautiful. I do have a question regarding the seam allowance. For the circles 3/8 worked beautifully. I also used that seam allowance for the petals, but they seem to be a bit narrow. Should I have used just 1/4 inch for those?
Thank you.
Hi Jean, you need two petals per side, do find them still too narrow?
Yes, I used 2 per side. They turned out a bit narrower than the petals made from sewing the circles together. When I make this again, I will use just a bit smaller seam allowance.
Thank you.
Hmmmm, i will have to revisit this tutorial…perhaps I am wrong.
When joining the 3 sets of 4. Do we end up with bulk on the underside.
No There should be no bulk at all. Sew all the sets in two first, then join two by two.
I think there is bulk when you join each flower together. From the picture I am not sure of any other way to join them. Could you clarify?
I do not understand what you mean by bulk, when you sew two circles together you will form a petal, you need to iron the petal open so keep the shape. Is that what you refer to as “bulk”? Can you please send me a picture mayra@so-sew-easy.com, kind regards,
Really enjoyed while reading this blog and it was very much interesting as well. I appreciate the efforts of the writer.
Do you have to add a seam allowance or is it already included….
Included in the pattern.
Good morning. Totally silly question here but with regards to the placement of the square. What is the best way to get this centred as my square is larger than my circle not that I have sewn it together. I love this pattern but im fairly new to sewing so its a learning curve.
Hi Carol the square represents a stitching line, onece you have sewn the circles you need to attach them together and the stitching lines will eventually become a square. Try not to get too hung over the square just attach the circles as best as you can forming the petals.
My first attempt, love the pattern and had so many positive responces. I’m going to make a couple a smaller ones only using four circles and eight leaves. I used a dinner plate for the template and measured the leaves off that
Hope I’ve managed download a photo
You incease the pattern 200%
Hello!
I want to start on this table runner as well. Question is, what batting should I use?
Here in Germany where I am located it is possible to get „Vlieseline“ in different thickness. What thickness would you recommend? It varies in cm, like 0,2; 0,5; 1cm and so on.
Could I use some spare cotton scraps as a batting? Or plain cotton fabric?
My main fabrics are also cotton with a nice christmas print in white and red (because I like your design so much :P).
Unlike the previous poster I had no issues with printing it.. on paper it seems round and good.
Thanks in advance for your answer!
Yours, Marli
Hi Marli .2 would be the best because after you sew the layers together your machine might have a hard time stitching the leaves because of the thickness, try making a leave with the scrap cotton and see if you like the thickness I would say a double layer of cotton might do i. I am all for recycling and using the leftovers so I encourage you to make it work.
Hello Mayra,
Thanks a lot for your reply! You were right, the thickness of a layer of plain cotton was too little, so I went ahead and bought some really cheap and thin fleece-blankets (like 2,50€ each, so really cheap) and cut them. They are perfect!
Also I used google to translate “2 yards” and it converted to 2m… Well, now I have 2 meters of esch fabric which is unused because to make 2(!) table runners, I needed 2m of each fabric. Oh well, I already have some projects in mind for this nice Christmas fabric 😛
After cutting out the Pattern I too measured the Site of the box and it was uneven, so not rectangular (?) all sided exactly the same lenght. I tried around and came to the conclusion, that If one is to put a perfect square inside, the circle wont be a circle any longer. So I measured around again and used and cut the circle at the black line but put a seam allowance on the petals. It should work out now. Im exited to sew it!
Greetings from cold Germany
Marli
Hi Marli, I am happy you have found answers to your questions, and worked your way around the problems, I think you will love the table runner, I am making a new one for the video and I will add all the questions and problems people have had on it. Do send me a picture and I will include it in the video for our You Tube channel. Kind Regards, from sunny yet cold Southern Hemisfere.
For people trying to figure out what the 1, 2 and 3 on the pattern are, those are the page numbers for the printed pattern. When you print it out, you will assemble them with 1 at the top left, 2 at the top right and 3 at the bottom left below 1. That gives you the whole ‘circle’ on 1 & 3 and the petal on 2.
When you have them lined up properly, you should have 3/4 of a small, shaded circle at the point where the three pages come together.
Mayra, I really like this design – it’s unusual while still ‘traditional’ so will fit in with a lot of homes. I’m trying another way of putting it together and, if it works, I’ll pass it on. Meanwhile, I’ve made it twice for gifts and I know they will love it!
Okay, I was able to reprint the pattern and chose ‘Actual Size’ on the print window. The test square is now a perfect 2″ square. The circle has a diameter of 9 3/4″. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the ‘square’ inside the circle is not a square – it is a rectangle. Is there any reason why you wanted it that way? It seems to make more sense to have it a square so that all the petals will be the same size. I will have to re-size the individual petals so they will match the petals that will be created by sewing the circles together.
So that’s how I’m going to adjust the pattern. Does that sound reasonable to you? I’ll let you know how it works out.
Dear K-Lee, please dont get hooked on the squares, it is not a square they are stitching lines. The key is to have the circles the same size so when you sew them together the petals are going to be all the same. Happy sewing!